Public rights of way: Farmers advised to ‘protect’ land as trespassing surges

With a surge in the number of walkers in the countryside during the lockdown period, property consultancy Fisher German has warned farmers and landowners must act to protect their assets, in order to prevent a loss of control over their land.

The firm reinforced that once a PROW had been created, it would become increasingly difficult to remove or alter the route and therefore urged landowners to gain ‘expert advice’ on making a ‘deposit’ under Section 31 (6) of the Highways Act 1980, in a bid to protect their land.

Molly Dickson of Fisher German, said: “We have had an increasing number of landowners contact us during the pandemic about people walking on their land where there is not a public right of way.